Sometimes it's tough to figure out the relationship between Terrell Owens and the team which drafted him, the San Francisco 49ers. At times, the Hall of Fame receiver has seemingly displayed contempt toward his former team. For example, a TMZ reporter asked him last year which team he would enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame with — even though NFL players aren't associated with just one organization when inducted.
"Well, it won't be the Niners," Owens responded.
The relationship between Owens and the 49ers appears to have improved since then. The former NFL receiver received his Hall of Fame ring in front of a Levi's Stadium crowd on November 1 as the 49ers hosted the Oakland Raiders. The 49ers announced on Wednesday that Owens will become the 28th inductee into the Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame.
"I know there's a lot of speculation as to the relationship between me and the Niners," Owens told reporters via a conference call on Wednesday. "Back then, I was in a different mindset, so again, that's what probably prompted some of the things that I said. In my mind, I probably validated it in how I felt, and I'm sure in their mind, they probably validated it in how they felt.
"They say time heals all wounds. Time has gone by for a number of years, and I think we've all moved on. I think this is [a great] opportunity and I'm very grateful for it."
There are aspects of his time with the 49ers that Owens continues to loathe, like his relationship with ex-head-coach Steve Mariucci. There are, however, fond memories of his time with the team. Owens even admits to at one point wanting to end his career with the 49ers. He even campaigned to general manager John Lynch last year to sign him for the veteran minimum.
"There's a few things that have changed since '03 as it relates to management, things of that nature," Owens said. "I'm sure we probably both sit back and say, 'Well, maybe we could have handled certain situations a little bit differently.' Like I say, hindsight is 20/20, but at the end of the day, this is a tremendous honor in itself, and moment for me and the 49ers.
"I'm just very, very grateful for the time spent there in San Francisco. I had some great years there in the Bay Area. I definitely wanted to be a part of possibly bringing another championship to the Bay Area, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. But I definitely [wouldn't] say that it didn't happen because I didn't put my heart and soul into that uniform because I think everybody that has witnessed my career from the time that I left the 49ers, every uniform that I put on, I pretty much prepared and I played 100 percent."
What would Owens like to tell 49ers fans as he prepares to head into the team's Hall of Fame?
"I appreciate all the support that they've given me over the year," he responded. "I know a lot of those fans, they follow me on social media ... I never for one moment disliked the fans by any means with my comments. My comments were more directed toward the organization. Obviously, the fans, they feel they're connected, they're tied to the organization in that regard.
"Again, I've always loved the 49ers. That was where I started my career. I remember driving to the stadium there at Candlestick. I had my usual routine every day on game day where I would go get my car washed, drive to the stadium, and those are very vivid moments that I remember. Driving into that stadium, and seeing the fans, and seeing the 81s (jerseys)."